OFFICE POLICY AND PROCEDURES
1. Student Records:
The school maintains a permanent cumulative file on
all NORTHPOINTE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY students. Records
of health, grades, standardized test scores, reports
on parent conferences, and reports on disciplinary
action make up most of the content.
2. Release of Records:
a). NORTHPOINTE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY will release student
grades, standardized test scores, and medical information
on the written request of another school system when
such request contains both the signature of an authorized
school official and the signature of at least one
(1) parent or legal guardian on a form to be supplied
by the receiving school.
b). Records and transcripts will not be released if
a student’s tuition and/or fees account is not
“paid in full” at the end of a school
year, or if an account is delinquent during the school
year.
3. School Phone
Students may use the office telephone with permission
of a staff member, when it is needed and available.
(Calls to students during school hours are to be limited
to emergency messages. Students may not make calls
or receive calls in the classroom. Classroom phones
are for official use only.)
4. Lost and Found
Clothing, books, and personal articles will be collected
by the school custodial staff each day, and placed
in a central depository. Students and their parents
or guardians are asked to check and reclaim articles
during times designated. The school assumes no responsibility
for articles left lying about the building or improperly
stored. Articles that are not reclaimed after a reasonable
time shall be forfeited by the owner and donated to
an appropriate charitable organization. Staff in the
school office can advise students and parents about
the location of “found items.”
5. Textbooks and Supplies (Book Fee/Rental)
a). Each student purchases the required softbound
textbooks and supplementary books. It must be emphasized
that only the “consumable” (softbound)
books need to be purchased. The hardbound books are
the property of NORTHPOINTE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY and
must be properly cared for, including the use of appropriate
protective covering. Deliberate mutilation, defacing,
or loss of any of these hardbound books will result
in the parents or legal guardian being assessed the
full replacement cost.
b). Supplies will be sold at the school. Students
may purchase these from 7:30–7:50 A.M. A supply
list will be sent home with a price list.
^TOP
Lunch
Students are to bring their own lunch to
school. They are free to bring their own drinks in
thermos containers.
Food is to be eaten only in the Multipurpose area.
No student is allowed to eat anywhere else in the
building. Food is never to be wasted, and garbage
is to be disposed of properly. Throwing and/or playing
with food will not be allowed. Students should always
be orderly in the Multipurpose Area.
NOTE TO PARENTS:
Please be sure to give your children a lunch before
they leave for school. Getting a lunch to them at
school interrupts the office, student, teacher, and
class routine. If you do need to get a lunch to your
child, leave it in the school office, where your child
should stop by for it. Also, we welcome and encourage
those parents/guardians who would like to eat lunch
at school with their children. We only ask that they
make arrangements with the child’s teacher in
advance. These guidelines will help insure smooth
operation of our daily schedule. We appreciate your
cooperation.
^TOP
Parent/School Relations
1. Appointments with Teachers
Parents or guardians are encouraged to see any member
of the teaching staff at any time they have a question
or concern about their child’s progress. Teachers
are available before or after school for this purpose.
To facilitate conferences, parents are asked to call
the school office to confirm the availability of the
teacher they wish to see. Parents who desire a telephone
conference may leave a message with the office, and
the teacher will be asked to return their call at
his earliest possible convenience.
2. Parent/Teacher Conferences
Regularly scheduled conferences will be held each
quarter. Parents will be given the opportunity to
request scheduled conferences.
3. School Communications
The school is committed to effective communication.
If a parent needs further information concerning school
activities, please call the school office. Notices
of special events and activities will be mailed, or
sent by students, during the school year. Parents
are asked to always read the notices sent home because
important news concerning school closings, holidays,
time changes, etc., may be involved.
4. Classroom Visiting
a). Parent(s) or guardian(s) are invited to visit
provided the arrangement is made in advance and approved
by the principal. Anyone visiting the campus must
first check in at the office and receive a “PASS.”
Parents may not go to classroom without a “PASS.”
b). Other visitors are not permitted to visit class
or be on campus during the school day without the
approval of the principal or a designated official.
5. Bicycles: A designated area complete with a parking
rack is available on campus for students who ride
their bikes to school. Bicycles should not be ridden
on campus. Those bringing bikes must provide their
own means of securing their bicycle. The school cannot
be responsible for theft or vandalism.
6. Birthdays
A student's birthday may be celebrated by the class.
A parent desiring to bring refreshments should always
make arrangements with the classroom teacher well
in advance of the date. When preparing refreshments,
please be sensitive to special dietary needs of children
(i.e., allergies to chocolate). Invitations to private
birthday parties may not be distributed at school
unless all children in that room are being invited.
7. Confidentiality
The school office will not give out telephone numbers
or addresses of school families over the telephone.
Parents can come to the school office and look up
addresses of families in order to send birthday invitations
8. Complaint or Problem Procedures
Occasionally during the course of the year, misunderstandings
or problems will arise between the teacher and a student,
teacher and parent, parent and school, or one of several
other possible areas. Such a misunderstanding often
results from lack of communication between those involved.
^TOP
Students must, at all times, conduct
themselves in a manner becoming a Christian. Griping
is not tolerated! If a student comes home complaining
about a discipline policy, parents should follow this
procedure:
a). Give NORTHPOINTE
LEADERSHIP ACADEMY the benefit
of
the doubt.
b). Realize that your
child’s reporting is emotional, and may not
contain
all the relevant information.
c). Realize that we
have reasons for all rules, and that we enforce them
without
favor.
d). Support the administration
and call us for all the facts.
The administration has adopted a
set policy for these situations, and complaints or
problems will be handled in the way prescribed. (Matthew
18:15–17)
(1) All questions, problems,
or complaints should be brought directly to the
teacher first, before anyone else is involved.
(2) If the situation
is not cleared up at this level through direct contact
(and
95 percent are!), the problem should be brought to
the principal.
(3) Finally, but only
when all the above two (2)steps have been taken in
order
and without satisfactory resolution, does the problem
find its way
to the chairman of the board of directors of NORTHPOINTE
LEADERSHIP
ACADEMY through written appeal.
Concern for Property Students should consider it
a privilege to attend NPLA and, therefore, should
do all in their power to keep the building attractive.
Any student known to deface or destroy school or personal
property will be assessed the full cost of repair
or replacement, and be subject to other severe disciplinary
action. Students should only eat in designated eating
areas under the supervision of adults. Throwing objects
inside the building is forbidden.
Text Books
All textbooks are the property of NPLA and are assigned
to students for their use. The student responsible
for the care of his/her books will be charged for
any which are lost or willfully damaged.
^TOP
EMERGENCY: Emergency evacuation
procedures are practiced at unannounced intervals.
Instruction will be given by teachers as to procedures
to be followed. Students will follow the teacher's
instructions and move to designated safe areas.
Foggy Days
The safety of our children is our most important consideration
on foggy days. Classes will not be delayed on such
days, however, any child arriving late will be excused.
Parents are asked to use their best judgment as to
the safety of transporting their children in the fog.
Gum at School
Elementary students are not allowed to chew gum on
the school premises. A teacher or the principal may
suspend this rule for short periods of time for specified
groups.
Holiday Celebrations
Christmas and Easter are celebrated as sacred holidays
and children are taught the significance of these
special days on the church calendar. Secular symbols
often associated with these holiday celebrations,
Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny, are not displayed
and reference to them is avoided. The school feels
that parents have the right to explain the imaginary
nature of these secular symbols at an age they deem
appropriate. Occasionally, young children insist that
their teacher tell them if Santa Claus or the Easter
Bunny is real. On those occasions the teacher usually
responds with a remark such as, "It is fun to
pretend that they are real." Halloween is not
celebrated at NPLA. The school feels it is up to each
family to determine how they participate or refrain
from participating in this holiday
Lost and Found
"Lost and Found" storage is provided. Parents
may check this box for lost clothing or other articles.
Valuables such as watches, jewelry, etc., will be
held at the office and may be claimed by identification
of the object. Unclaimed articles will be donated
to a thrift shop one week after school is out.
Office Procedures Students must conduct themselves
in an orderly fashion in the office area. Patience,
politeness, and a soft voice will help our receptionist
and secretaries take care of their business in the
best way possible. Students must obtain a pass from
their classroom teacher (or aide) before coming to
the office (except for emergencies, of course).
Passes: Any student found in an
unsupervised area during school hours (hallways, restrooms,
office, etc.) will be expected to have a pass signed
by a teacher or aide.
^TOP
